Where to stay in Toulon: the 3 neighborhoods to know in 2026
Toulon divides people, even those who have actually visited. One Avygeo member sums it up as a town you pass through, while another thinks its reputation is unfair and keeps coming back for the harbour. Both are right at the same time, because the area you pick decides which of the two cities you sleep in.
A basic two-star double room runs $45 to $68* for much of the year, a well-located three-star goes for $101 to $135*, and the four-star properties down by the port and the waterfront cost $168 to $230*, with July and August adding roughly 40%. You will not find any dorm beds in town, so a private room is the entry point. Your choices come down to three areas: the lower town and its port, the nineteenth-century upper town, and Le Mourillon with its beaches.
Yes, it is a big city, with traffic, sidewalks that aren't washed every day, apartment complexes, and (good heavens!) social diversity in the streets... [...] In short, a normal city that lives in reality and not in a bubble.
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At a glance: our picks by traveller type
Pick the profile that suits you to head straight to the recommended neighborhood.
The neighborhood map in Toulon
Get your bearings on the neighborhoods and must-see sights before choosing where to drop your bags. Click a name to jump to its description.
The lower town and the port Below Boulevard de Strasbourg, stretching down to the quays
to do everything on foot, including the market
The old town fits between Cours Lafayette, where the market sets up every morning except Monday, and the quays where the harbour boats depart. Narrow alleys, colourful facades, small shaded squares, and the National Navy Museum just behind the Arsenal gate. This is the most lively and contrasting part of the city, where a few streets stay run-down and noisy at night, while two buildings further on the café terraces are packed.
Located right near the city center, the Port of Toulon is impressive with its massive naval base right next to the fishing boats.
What to see & do in the neighborhood
Where to stay in this neighborhood
L'Eautel Toulon Port Luxury
A 4-star hotel a hundred metres from the quays, featuring a rooftop pool and a bar-restaurant set under a 19th-century glass roof. Step outside onto the port, catch a boat out into the harbour, and come back to swim above the rooftops.
Grand Hôtel Dauphiné Mid-range
A family-run hotel with 52 rooms right in the pedestrian zone, complete with a heated rooftop pool and sauna. Parking is available in a nearby garage at a discounted rate, a fair trade-off if you arrive by car and prefer not to touch it during your stay.
Hôtel Little Palace Budget
A 2-star hotel on the same pedestrian street as the Dauphiné, three minutes from the Cours Lafayette market. Rooms are basic, but the location rivals spots three times the price.
Pros
- The Cours Lafayette market every morning except Monday
- The quays and boat departures on foot
Cons
- Some streets that feel run-down and noisy at night
- Limited and paid parking
The upper town, from Place de la Liberté to the train station North of Boulevard de Strasbourg
for an early train or a tight budget
Past Boulevard de Strasbourg, Toulon shifts eras with balcony-lined apartment buildings, the opera house, and Place de la Liberté featuring its Fédération fountain, daytime café terraces, and a Christmas market in winter. The train station is a five-minute walk away, and the Hôtel des Arts with its free exhibits is two streets away. This is where you find the lowest rates in the centre, and also the busiest avenues.
There is not much to see, but it is a must-see crossing point and a pleasant spot to have a coffee on a terrace.
What to see & do in the neighborhood
Where to stay in this neighborhood
Okko Hotels Toulon Centre Luxury
A contemporary 4-star hotel behind Place de la Liberté where the room rate includes access to the ground-floor club featuring drinks, snacks, an evening aperitif, a fitness area, and a sauna. Rooms are compact and designed like ship cabins.
Hôtel Amirauté Mid-range
A 3-star hotel on a quiet street between Place de la Liberté and the theatre, five minutes from both the station and the port. Nothing flashy, but centrally located with steady rates all year round.
Celenya Hôtel Budget
A 2-star hotel two hundred metres from the station, sitting at the lowest price point in the centre. The classic spot for a single night before an early morning train, with no other ambitions than that.
Pros
- Five-minute walk to the train station
- The lowest rates in the centre
Cons
- Busy avenues that get loud on the street side
- The sea is twenty minutes away, and there is nothing seaside about it here
Le Mourillon To the east, along the beaches
to swim without leaving the city
A former fishing village turned Toulon's beach neighbourhood: four sandy coves separated by breakwaters, a tree-lined promenade, waterfront restaurants, and the Tour Royale closing off the harbour at the end. The swimming areas are protected from the waves by seawalls, which a member describes as “reassuring for families with children”, and you can spot seabream swimming along the jetties with a snorkel. The downside comes down to two words: it is small, and in the summer it is packed.
Unfortunately, in the summer, the beach is completely overrun. It really ruins the scenery, especially when people do not respect the cleanliness of the site. I would still recommend it for families with children, since this beach remains very convenient.
What to see & do in the neighborhood
Where to stay in this neighborhood
Best Western Plus La Corniche Luxury
The 4-star option on Toulon's waterfront along Littoral Frédéric Mistral, featuring beach access and harbour views. This is the spot if you want to swim before breakfast.
Hôtel Les Voiles Mid-range
A 3-star hotel from the same group as La Corniche, set back a bit on the Lamalgue side, featuring a rooftop terrace and breakfast included. Less than a ten-minute walk separates your room from the sand.
Pros
- Beaches and the promenade right outside the hotel
- Sheltered coves behind breakwaters, great for kids
Cons
- Only two hotels, and nothing inexpensive
- Packed beaches in July and August
Our tips for booking the right place
- You cross the harbour by boat, not by car: This is what makes Toulon unique: from the quays, municipal water buses cross the harbour towards La Seyne, Les Sablettes, and Saint-Mandrier for the price of a standard bus ticket. The crossing takes about fifteen minutes, offers the only decent view of the naval base and Mount Faron, and lets you skip the detour through the tunnel and the motorway. In season, this is also where ferries depart for the islands.
- Mont Faron by cable car, with some planning: Mont Faron is the most recommended spot in Toulon among Avygeo members, and the cable car is part of the fun: a few minutes' climb and the whole harbour below you. A member warns that wait times can build up and suggests checking the schedule before heading up. You can also reach the top via the winding mountain road. Up at the summit, the memorial to the Provence landings wins universal praise, but the small zoo does not, as a member points out that the cages are far too cramped.
- When Le Mourillon gets packed, head to Anse Magaud instead: The beaches at Le Mourillon sit fifteen minutes from the centre and are full from July. An Avygeo member suggests walking out to Anse Magaud, a small cove east of Cap Brun that she describes as still relatively uncrowded with sweeping views over the Mediterranean. You get down there on foot via the coastal footpath, so bring sturdy shoes and water since it is not a developed beach resort.
- Booking a stay listed in Toulon without checking the exact municipality can backfire, because several hotels sold under that name sit over in La Seyne-sur-Mer, Ollioules, or La Valette across the harbour or beyond the motorway. The drive looks short on a map, but it runs through the tunnel or along the A50 motorway, and takes twice as long at rush hour.
- Counting on Le Mourillon for a budget trip does not work out, since the neighbourhood only holds two hotels run by the same group and nothing below the mid-range level. If you want to sleep near the water without paying the price, stay in the centre and plan on a fifteen-minute walk or bus ride.
- Booking a room on avenue Vauban or boulevard de Strasbourg without asking for one facing the courtyard is a mistake, because those are the two main arteries slicing right through the city and traffic starts early.
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